"Wow," Sarah said as she looked around at the large empty room, "I'm impressed, this place is bigger than I imagined it to be."

"Yeah," Jack said, shifting from one foot to the other, "its bigger than I need but it doesn't matter, its close to Kim's which is what I wanted the most."

"Few more weeks and you'll be able to walk the distance," Sarah said as Jack led her to the kitchen. "Don't you think its bare though?" She asked, unable to hide her thoughts.

Jack laughed slightly as he ran a hand through his hair tiredly, "I think its fine. But Kim has already made me promise to let her put some stuff up to make it look…"

"More homely?"

"Yeah, I guess, though I'm not really fussed." Sarah smirked and shook her head at him in disbelief.

"If this is going to be your home for the next twelve months minimum I'd start learning how to fuss," she said, before muttering quietly, "men."

"What about them?" Jack asked, trying to provoke her.

"Nothing," she said, "come on, lets get going, I'll drop you off at Kim's on my way home. I like the place through, when you moving in?"

"Tomorrow."

"Have you started packing yet?"

Jack shook his head as he flipped the lights off and followed her out. "I can do that tonight, I'm sure it wont take long."

Sarah smirked again as she waited in the car for him to lock the door, "rather you than me," she whispered to herself.

She pulled up to the pavement by Kim's and rolled the car to a stop. Jack smiled at her before getting out, trying to think of something to say. Sarah spoke, trying to ease the tension, "so, I'll see you around right?"

"I'm sure you will," he said softly, "thank you Sarah, you've helped me a lot."

"You're welcome," she said as she stared straight ahead, "it will be strange, not seeing your ugly mug each and every day!"

Jack laughed before adding, "keep in touch," and before he could continue Sarah interrupted him, "You just be careful Bauer, I know where you live."

Jack smirked again, appreciating her humour, making the parting easier, he had grown attached to her throughout his recovery and he sensed she felt the same way.

"See you," he said, before leaning over in the car and kissing her on the cheek before getting out and walking back to the house, his pace slow though he didn't look back once. Sarah watched him go inside before starting the car up again, a sad smile on her face as she drove away to her sisters home once more.

Late afternoon the following day Chase helped Jack move his boxed up belongings into the new apartment. Jack was surprised with how much stuff he had although his possessions didn't fill the place, which pleased Kim, who had more room to work to make the place look "pretty," or alternatively "lived in" as she put it.

When they left Jack sat down in the living room looking out through the window in silence, wondering how he was supposed to feel. Free? Changed? Better? He felt just the same, and although he missed the company his family had provided him with throughout the previous months he also liked the quiet and the solitude, he didn't have to worry about anything because their was only himself to worry about for now.

He picked up the phone and called Heller, who was surprised to hear from him, but pleased to grant his request of Audrey's cell number after Jack enquired after her health, and answered the mans questions about his own.

"Has she asked about me, since she returned home?"

Heller was silent a moment as he hesitated to answer. The pause told Jack enough, and gave him time to prepare himself for the mans response.

"Not yet Jack, she's just getting back into a routine, getting used to life again."

Before the call had ended Heller made Jack promise to meet him for lunch where the two could discuss Jacks employment opportunities. Jack was uncomfortable with getting help from the Secretary of Defence but Heller was sincere and so Jack accepted, knowing it would help him speed things up and that to refuse the help would be hurting himself as well as Heller.

When Jack ended the call he held the small scrap of paper he had jotted Audrey's number down on in his hands and stared up at the ceiling for a while before finally making the call. It was awkward at first.

"Audrey Raines."

"Audrey its Jack."

"Jack? Oh, God, I didn't expect to hear from you."

"I'm sorry for calling I just-"

"It's okay," she interrupted, before the two lapsed into silence.

"Can we meet," Jack finally asked, "I'd like to talk to you, face to face," he added, and then waited nervously for Audrey's answer.

"Sure," she said, "I think that would be a good idea."

They made arrangements to go out for lunch the following day, the only time Audrey had free before she left for Washington with her father at the end of the week.

Audrey smiled nervously as Jack approached her and hugged her lightly. He was surprised and saddened to feel the tenseness in her shoulders, it almost matched the stiffness of his own actions.

"How are you?" He asked as they seated themselves in a small restaurant which had the lights dimmed even though it was early in the afternoon.

"I'm good. You look well," Audrey added as she studied him, "when you were taken, I thought… I guess I thought you…"

"It doesn't matter," Jack said, "I'm back and I am fine."

"Are you?"

Jack nodded his head, not wanting to repeat himself. "How about you?"

"I'm doing better as well, just getting on with things."

"Audrey," Jack cut in, "I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. How things were left between us, what I did to Paul…"

He noticed how she flinched at the mention of Paul and felt his stomach twist with rejection.

"I don't blame you," she said meekly, "I thought about it too. I regretted the way I treated you, for what you did, I didn't think I'd get the chance to tell you how sorry I was."

"You did nothing wrong," Jack said.

"And neither did you," Audrey continued, "even though I had trouble accepting that during the event, now I understand."

Jack nodded his head, uncomfortable with the silence but unable to fill it. Audrey looked down at her hands as though waiting for him to say something.

"There's nothing left between us, is there?" He said shakily, feeling nothing as he voiced his thoughts.

Audrey shook his head slowly and Jack nodded his in response.

"You going back to Washington?"

"Yes, I'm going to concentrate on my career," she said.

"I hope it goes well for you," he said, and suddenly the two knew the conversation was over.

Jack pulled her chair out for her and the two left before ordering anything. Jack walked her to her car and lingered their as Audrey rummaged through her bag for the keys. Finally she found them and looked up at him, smiling softly, "be careful Jack," she said as she touched his cheek before opening up the car door. Jack stepped back to give her space to get in but didn't reply, their was nothing left to say, and nothing left to feel as he watched her car drive away into the traffic.

As he hailed a cab Jack was surprised to find his mind free of thoughts of Audrey. She wanted to focus on her career, he wished her luck, knowing that was no longer the life for him.

When he got home he flipped open his cell and searched through the contacts until he found her name. He pressed the call button feeling butterflies he had not noticed before begin to flutter in his stomach as he tried to think of what to say.

"Hey stranger," Sarah answered, "missing me already?" she joked.

"Yes," Jack said gruffly, "listen, can I take you out to dinner sometime?"

Sarah paused a moment, "as in two friends going out to eat?"

"I was thinking… I mean, I was hoping it could be like as a date," Jack stammered, feeling his cheeks redden.

"Okay," Sarah said, "that would be nice."

"Really?" Jack asked in disbelief.

"Really," Sarah laughed, "I thought you'd never ask."

The End